2026 Wisconsin Cancer Summit Recap

Overview of National Lung Cancer Priorities: 

Deana Baptiste, PhD, MPH is an Epidemiologist and the Senior Director of Cancer Screening Guideline Development at the American Cancer Society (ACS). She shared national lung cancer statistics and highlight lung cancer screening priorities of the American Cancer Society including the ACS National Lung Cancer Roundtable. 

Lung Cancer Screening, Tools, and Resources: 

• Dr. Hasmeena Kathuria, MD is the Director of the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Tobacco Treatment and Intervention (UW-CTRI), a pulmonologist, an implementation science researcher, and an expert in tobacco dependence treatment. Her presentation focused on lung cancer screening eligibility, recommendations, and implementation considerations. Estimates of lung cancer screening rates in Wisconsin, tobacco use rates in Wisconsin, and other information that informs the state of lung cancer was also discussed. 

• Allison Gorrilla, MPH, is an Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin – Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. She provided an overview of the UW-CTRI Outreach Program and the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line. She also reviewed how the Outreach Program assists oncology providers with integrating tobacco treatments and resources, including the Quit Line, into oncology care. 

Policy Landscape:

Molly Collins is the Advocacy Director for Wisconsin and South Dakota at the American Lung Association, where she works to expand healthcare access, champion clean air for all, improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families, create a tobacco free future, and end lung cancer. She provided an overview of recent policy activities that have impacted commercial tobacco policy and discussed future policy/advocacy priorities that may impact lung cancer outcomes and commercial tobacco control.